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Translator / barrier coaches - what's inside them?

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scarby

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We see quite a few of these knocking around, some used more often than others, but what's actually inside them?

Many have the former windows covered, but not always all of them and most seem to have operational doors.

Here's a photo I found of one with its doors open and there's evidently something inside but it is difficult to make out.

http://www.departmentals.com/photo/975875977087-1

Just curious, especially with the windows normally being covered over. Anyone been inside one?
 
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xc170

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I'm sure I've seen photos of the interior of the 313(?) barrier coaches and they still have some of the original seating.
 

Defiance149

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Interior of one of the Mk.1 conversions. What appears to be a compressor on the floor at the far end and four cabinets. Grey one could be the generator set?
 

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gimmea50anyday

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I would imagine the modifications required for their purpose are merely superficial and stuff like the interiors will most likely remain as they were at the time of conversion. I.e untouched.
Why spend money on moving/removing interior fittings that aren’t required?
 

millemille

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The original MkI translator vehicles have a Motor/Generator set which runs off the locomotives' ETH output and generates the auxiliary voltage for the control systems on the towed stock. There's an electrical panel, inside an enclosure, which controls/protects the circuits connected to the towed stock. There's a pneumatic panel which contains a number of pressure switches and the like to convert the brake pipe air pressure from the locomotive to three wire, or other format, brake control for the towed stock and back to brake pipe for the trailing translator vehicle.

Spent a fair bit of time working with translator vehicles in the 90's and 2000's as the EMU fleets I was fleet engineer on had to be loco hauled from their operating areas to overhaul facilities such as Chart Leacon and Doncaster, necessitating the use of translators.

At the time the translator vehicle sets were generally in a poor state of repair, they'd been unloved for many years and their maintenance was given to companies, often short lived, who knew little or nothing about them. I was very lucky at the time that one of my colleagues was the principal designer for the brake conversion system used in the translator vehicles and was very tolerant of me ringing him at all times of the day and night seeking assistance with fault diagnosis when the translator had failed...yet again
 

gimmea50anyday

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That’s interesting. You can tell the mk1s were former corridor stock but I’m surprised the interior has been completely ripped out, whereas the former 508 stock still has much of its passenger saloon intact. Wonder how much of that cab equipment is still in working order?...
 
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That’s interesting. You can tell the mk1s were former corridor stock but I’m surprised the interior has been completely ripped out, whereas the former 508 stock still has much of its passenger saloon intact. Wonder how much of that cab equipment is still in working order?...
I thought the seats might have been ripped out to fit in spare parts maybe? Would there ever be any situation where people might need to ride inside a barrier coach?

More generally I find the idea of converting EMU stock to loco hauled coaches quite interesting, if not hugely practical for most things.
 

43096

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One of the GWR HST barriers (can’t recall the number off the top of my head) retains its full guard’s brake capability which was deliberately retained as cover for the Night Riviera when a BFO was away for refurbishment.
 

yorksrob

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I've been on this forum for quite a while now and I have to say, what a splendid idea for a thread - I've always wondered this :)

I must admit, I'm a little dissappointed not to see any dusty trojan covered mk 1 cushions !
 

duffield

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Personally I'd have liked to have seen an interior picture of the one containing the skeleton of the passenger who 'fell asleep' and never got off. :E


(Just my way of saying that I find the blocked-off windows a bit spooky)
 
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